Beautiful rendering of the Atlantic polar regions, south to include the British Isles. Fictious and legendary islands of Frisland Drogeo and Icaria are placed below Iceland, Frisland being embellished with numerous towns and adjacent islands. Two of the mythical polar islands surrounding the pole enter at top. Ortelius was influenced by Mercator's 1569 world map, the infamous 1558 Zeno map of the north, Olaus Magnus' map of Northern regions and the Carte Marina of 1539. Elaborate outline of Scandinavian coast. The map is embellished with two ships at sea, several mythical creatures and what appears to be a monkey!

Nice impression on heavy paper with full margins. Lovely recent hand color. Single fold as issued.